Dividing a Line

Dividing a Line into Equal Parts

There is a no-calculations method of dividing a line into equal parts. This describes how to divide a line into any number of equal parts without calculating and measuring the divisions.

The steps are:

Determine the number of divisions required across the base or perimeter line. Then draw a long line at a shallow angle to the line to be divided.

Angled line and dividers

Take a pair of dividers and open them to the approximate width of the individual division or piece.  In this example it was decided to have five divisions of about 50 mm.  The dividers are opened to 50 mm and marked off on the angled line from the corner the required number of times - in this case five.  

Then make a line from the last mark to the angled line to the end of the cartoon line with a right angle drawing square. 

Setting the angle

Place a long straight edge on the bottom of the drawing square and then mark the remaining divisions by maintaining the angle of the long straight edge while moving the drawing square from one mark to another. 

Moving the drawing square along the line and marking the base line

This process allows you to make equal divisions of a line without worrying about fractions of a centimetre or of an inch. It is simple and just as accurate as your skill in holding the straight edge steady while you run the drawing square along the edge and mark the base or vertical line.  In general it is more accurate than any calculations and measurements on the base or vertical lines.